Vapor electric apparatus.



J. T. H. DEMPSTER. POR ELECTRIC APPARATUS. LIOATION FILED APP AUG.14, 1905.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

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JOHN T. H. DEMPSTER, OF SCHENECTADY, YORK, ASSIGNOR T GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VAPOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 30, 19131 Original application filed April 27, 1904, Serial No. 205,107. Divided and this application filed August 14,

1905. Serial No. 274.212.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN T. H. DEMP- s'rnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and State of New York, have invented c'ertainnew and useful Improvements 1n Vapor Electric Apparatus, of which the I following is a specification.

My present invention relates to certain improvements in means for starting and operating mercury vapor apparatus such for example as mercury vapor lamps, rectifiers, or the like.

In carrying my invention into practice I mount the lamp or other device so as to be carried on a pivot and provide electromagnetic means for tilting the device on this pivot. in order to start the same.

The featuresof novelty characteristic of my invention are pointedou'vin the .appended claims. The invention itself, however, will'be better understood'by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of an apparatus embodying my invention, Figs.

2 and 3 are diagrams representing one method of using such apparatus, and Figs. 4 and 5 a modified method of using the apparatus.

The mercury lamp or similar device which is to be started by the use of my invention may be used either on constant potential or constant current circuits. It may assume various forms, as for example that shown in Fig. 1, in which the tube of glass 1 or other material constitutes the container or envelop of the lamp. Pockets 2 and 3 are formed near opposite ends of the lamp and are provided with leading-in conductors l and 5. These pockets are filled with mercury so as to constitute electrodes and sufiicient mercury is provided so that when the lamp is in a horizontal position the mercury completely bridges over the space between the electrodes and forms a conducting ribbon or body as indicated at 6. The lamp 1 is mounted by means of clips 7 and 8 on a beam 9. This beam has a cross-arm 10 by means of which it is pivoted between.

'19 a-djustably secured to the cross-arm lO carries a weight 20 which maybe adjusted-along the' arm 19. The position of the arm 19 and the weight 20 may be varied to automatically bring the lamp 1 into desired position with the parts in a state of equi librium.

hen the apparatus is to be used with the series solenoid 14 alone the weight 20"is adjusted so that the lamp is brought into a horizontal position whenout of service, in which case the mercury" in the lamp forms a conducting bridgebetween the electrodes. This horizontal starting position of the lamp is shown in Fig. 2 in which 21 and 22 represent the mains by which current is supplied to the lamp. As soon as the current is turned on to the lamp the series solenoid 14, becoming energized, pulls down one end of the beam carrying the lamp and causes mercury to flow into the lower end of the lamp and thus break the bridge or ribbon of mercury between the electrodes. The position thus assumed by the lamp is shown in Fig. 3. The are thus struck between the broken ends of the ribbon is continued between the mercury in the pockets 2' and 3 until the currentds interrupted for anyreason, whereupon the parts return by gravity to the starting position. The dash pot 18 causes the tilting of the lamp to be slow and thus provides a more favorable condi-. tion for starting than is present when an abrupt rupture of the mercury bridge or'ribbon takes place.

Instead of starting with the lamp in a horizontal position and with the mercury forming a bridge between the electrodes, I am enabled by the use of the shunt solenoid 16 to start with the lamp in an inclined po'si- .105

tion as represented in Fig. 4.-

this instance the counterweight 20 is adpisted so as to bring the lamp .into the desired starting position shown in Fig. 3. The high resistance shunt solenoid 16, however, when current. is applied to the lamp in the starting position, upon becoming energized, tilts the lamp to a horizontal position, as indicated in Fig. 5, whereupon mercury flows between the electrodes 2 and 3 forming a conducting bridge 23 short circuiting the solenoid 16.

The solenoid 14:, then being traversed by a largely increased current, and assisted also by gravity, causes immediate return of the lamp to the starting position shown in Fig. 4. The mercury bridge 23 is thus broken and the mercury arc is started in the lamp.

In the running position the series solenoid 14 is far stronger than in the starting position so that the solenoid 16, being weaker than in the starting position, because of the voltage drop .in the steadying resistance 27 ;and coil 14:, is of insufficient strength to tilt the lamp again, whereupon the lamp con tinues to run with the parts in the same position as represented in Fig. 4.

'It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the embodiment of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof, for which reason I do not wish to be limited, to the exact details shown and described/ w a This application is a division of my ending" application for Letters Patent, erial N 0. 205,107, filed April 27, 1904.

What I. claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent of theUnited States, is,

1. A vapor device comprisinga movable container, normally separated electrodes: or contacts in said container and included in the main operatin -circuit of the device, one of such electrodes eing a conducting liquid, and automatic means for moving the container so as to make: and break conductive connection between the said electrodes.

'2. A vapor device comprising a movable container, normally separated electrodes or contacts in said container and included in, the mam operat1ng-c1rcu1t of the device, a

conducting liquid or fluid in said'container, and automatic means for moving the container so as to make and break conductive connection between said electrodes.

3. A vapor device comprising a movable container, the said device being adapted to posltlon other than horizontal,

operate'in a normally separated electrodes, and a conzontal position and being adapted to op erate in an inclined position, and automatic means for tilting the lamp so as to make and break metallic connection between the electrodes.

6. A mercury-vapor device comprising a movable container for mertury, normally separated electrodes in said container, andincluded in the main operating circuit of the device, and means operated by the main current adapted to move said container so as to make and break metallic connection between the electrodes.

7. A mercury-vapor device comprising a movable container for mercury, normally separated electrodes in said container, and included in.the main operating circuit of the device, and means operated by the main current adapted to move said container so as to make and break metallic connection between the electrodes, and to maintain the rupture of the internal circuit of the device through the mercury until the main current is interrupted.

8. A mercury-vapor device comprisinga movable container for mercury, normally separated electrodes in said container, and included in the main operating circuit of the device, and automatic means for moving the container so as to make and break metallic connection between said electrodes,

such means including a magnet-coil in series with the device, whereby the said 0011 acts as an inductive resistance in the main circuit.

In witnesslwhereof I have hereunto setq my hand this 4th day of August, 1905.

JOHN T. H. DEMPSDER. Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, GENEVIEVE HAYNES. 

